Fist gun



July 8, 1947. s. M. HAIGHT 2,423,448

FIST GUN Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4.

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Bf' srAA/LEyMHA/GHT l AT RNEY Patented July 8, 1947 iJNi'iED ST'EESPATENT QFFLCE FIST GUN Stanley M. Haight, United States Navy ApplicationFebruary 29, 1944, Serial No. 524,435

(Cl. Li2-13) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 11 Claims.

the Woods Patent 1,073,312. The purpose of these' devices is concealmentand surprise against holdups and the like, and they do not involvephysical contact with the adversary.

My device, on the contrary is not primarily intended to be concealed,although it may be if so desired, and the purpose is to provide thewearer with a lethal weapon which he may keep attached to his person atall times without undue diiculty. Modern warfare, with its inltrationtactics and surprise, entails considerable hand to hand fighting. Due tothe surprise nature of these attacks, the attacked personnel arefrequently caught comparatively unarmed, in that they have laid asidetheir normal arms while engaged in other duties, or while sleeping, etc.

The device, in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a firearmwhich is worn on the back of the hand, and has its trigger projecting inthe direction of the iingers. The barrel substantially parallels thedirection of the fingers. When the fist is doubled up, the trigger isexposed for contact and the lingers are removed from the line of re ofthe lethal charge of the weapon. Thus when the wearer becomes engaged inhand to hand fighting and his other weapons such as rifle or bayonet areineffective, he need only double up the st of the hand to which theweapon is attached, and strike his adversary'. Even though l,the triggerof the weapon is not struck against a vital organ of the adversary, suchas the head or abdomen, the nature of the lethal charge at these closequarters is such that the adversary will be instantly knocked out ordisabled, because the weapon is loaded with a shotgun shell, and theshattering eiect of such a shell, particularly at close range, is Wellknown. The Weapon contains only a single shell, and while it can bereloaded easily, it may not be possible to do so during the same action,but since it remains attached to the hand it is still a very eectivebrass knuckle in subsequent fighting.

It is accordingly the primary object of my invention to provide a novelfirearm which is adapted to be worn at all times, and with which alethal charge can be discharged into an adversary by pressing orstriking the Weapon against him.

Another purpose of the invention is the provision of a novel weaponwhich discharges its charge into an object when the trigger is pressedor struck against the object. p

Another object is the provision of a novel firearm adapted to be worn onthe back of the hand and discharged by striking orv pressing its triggeragainst an object or adversary, there being a safety device operable toprevent the inadvertent discharge of the gun when the safety is on..

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionthereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device attached to the back of aglove on the hand of a person, the st being doubled and the gun readyfor action;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the base of the gun, with the mechanismand barrel removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the barrel of the gun, looking at itfrom the rear; V

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional View in a plane parallel to the base andpassing through the barrel substantially at its diameter;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the gun, detached from the glove, withthe barrel rotated into the loading position, and showing a shell inposition to be loaded.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the sear;

Fig. 7 is a View in cross-section taken along the line 'l-'I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal View in cross-section along the line 8-3 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view in cross-Sectio along the line 9 9 of Fig.4;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal view in cross-section along the line ISB-l 0of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a partial longitudinal View in crosssection along the lineID-Ill and similar to Fig. 10, but. showing the ring pin in cockedposition;

Fig. 12 is a plan view in detail of the safety locking mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional View along line |3| 3 of Fig. 12 showingthe details of the spring pressed detent on the safety mechanism.

The gun is made of metal throughout, and comprises a base I2, shownsubstantially stripped in Fig. 2. The base I2 comprises a at portionwhich is fastened to the back of the hand or glove as shown in Fig. 1.Integral with or securely fastened .to the base I2 is a shoulder I3which has a longitudinal threaded bore I #extending parallel angles tothe base, as by machine screws I8 and I9 passing through lugs-20 and 2!which are, integral with the plate, the screws engaging tapped holes inthe base I2.. The plate I'I has a-,holelg therethrough, in axialalignment with the .bores I4 and I6 in shoulder I3 and breechV blockii5.

A trigger tube 23, threaded at one endmto engage the threaded bore I4 inthe shoulder I3, extends the length of the' base `1I 2 and'ipas'sesthrough the bore I6 and the holey 22, with both of `which it has afairly close t. The tube 23 is .tlrreaded on, the end-whichpa-ssesthrough-plate l I'I. --A cap 24 `is threaded ontov this end-of .tube

23 and tightened against theside of platek Mythe I.tubee23; therebybeing secured at cachend. .The tube -lis1locked against*I turning bya.-screw- 24a whichvis threaded into-the bottom ,-of the base I2 and hasan unthreaded portionftt-ing into a mating-hola 2419 inthe ytube 23.'Mountedfor sliding movement within the bore of trigger tube projectingend Illerl have an; enlarged impact button 26 threaded thereon.

`Asibest-showninfFigs 4,;8; 9 and'll, a lug 27 .-projectsffrorn onevside of the tri-ggerbar -near -its vother-end, and extendsf throughand'l pasta longitudinal slot 28 in the side Wall of thegtube A23.'I,1he trigger,bar.25 terminatesshortofthe fend of,u thev tube 23 `whenlthe trigger .bar is. at Vthe left-end-of its stroke as shown- -inFigs-4, 8 and 9. The left end of the stroke is determinedbyengagementofgthe lug'ZI'with the endfofjtheslot :'2.8 f. Itis.nQrma11y-,he1d-fn this-position' by a coil `vcompression 'spring 29'witl'lin` the bore ,of Y tube 23, the springbeingiempressedgzbetween'thefend @of the trigger barzgf andithevcapzt,which closes the end of tube 2,3. Y

The tube 2,3alsogservesasayhinge pin for a -barrely30of; the weaponasisshown in Figs. 14, 5

:arid-8. ,Thebarrel SMS shown separatelyinperfspectiveinfliggS, -andconsists `ofafs;flele block of metal of a lengthextendingpfromthe-breech block; I5 -to the ,fro,nt edge of the; base I2, ,except vforaside portionwhich isvcut awayat'lSI. This shortened sideportion fits between the'shoulder .l3rand the. breech-block; I5 andcontains aibore 32 through which passes the tube 23,thus forming ,the`hinged connection-between` the barrel 3U and the base I2 ofrthe gun.Asshownnin Fig 3, the lower corner -ofthebarrel is rounded at 38 so thecorner will clear the base. ,Parallel to the bore Y32Vis a, bore'133which receives a shotgun shellor cartridge 34 and, through which theVcharge -passeswhen the shell; is exploded. YAs

show-n insFig. 4,1thev muzzle v35 is adjacent, the

button 26. At the inner end'of bore 33 isan enlarged recess 36 intowhich fits the-,external .angeS'Iofthe shellor cartridge 34.

`-In orderto .load or .unload the'- gun, the barrel 30 isswung'up.lto.thefpositicn shownin lFigf5. After the shell is :insertedintothe borefthe Vbar- .,rel is swung idown .against the baseV and the,breech :block A.where :itA is latched in position by ',a-cspring..pressed .latch-.59 in the. breech block. .I5

4 fully in Fig. 4 and comprises a lever pivoted on ak pin 40 in thebreech block I5. The latch portion 39 of the leverts into a horizontal.notch 4I in the side and corner of the barrel 36, A 5 corresponding slot42 in the breech block I5 accommodates the lever, which has a fingerpiece 43. L A-hole, in the breech blo-ck I5 accommodates a coilcompression spring-i5 which bears against the inner side of the fingerpiece 43 to urge the 10 1ever clockwise as viewed in Fig, 4, and to thusVthe latch 39-by depressing the finger piece @3k 20 against the actionof the spring IE5. At its rear, by the recess 36, the barrel has agroove 45a in which a ring pin 54 slides when the barrel3lis swung upand down. Thebreech block `I5 has a lthreaded hole Mex- 25 tendingalmosttherethrough, and .inaxial alignment with the bore 33 when .the lbarrelis in the position of Fig. l. .The threaded holeA lil .termi- .hatesinla smaller axially aligned-helaas which :does go through the breechblock. In axialalign- 30 .mentwith the. aforementioned holes isa hole.49

. passing. through the plate: I'I. A threaded bushing 55A having aAsquare 4external vflangeliat is threaded` into and seated-inthe-hole l4in the breech block. The bushing .has a largeinternal bore 5i for mostof-.its length,terminating in a smaller bore-52, therebeingan internalshoulder 5.3 at .their juncture. tion or small diameter passing throughAthe vhole 5t for engagement with the firing cap .of` the shell in the.barrelL as showninkFigs..4 `and 10. The firing :pin is cf Ya length.extending past the plate Hand has a knobv 55 threadedon its outer end.YThe firing pin has Y.anenlarged .portion which slides in the bore52,fand an external `flange 55 which slides `the largebore! inthebush-`ing .55. A spring.-5l iscompressedbetween-tm -flange 55.011.the-.tiring pin and theshoulder 53, thus urging. thering .pin .to rthefleft. vBeyond Athe enlarged portion .whichslides .in bore 52, thefiring pin diameter is reduced to form a shoulder `-`58 and ,passes.througha-.bushing .59 which slides vthroug'fh the holeflin plateI'I..The bushing 59 is clamped to theringpin between .the shoulder T58 ,andthe knob55. Adjacent shoulderv58 the .bushing hasan annular recessterminating in a sharprshoulderi. Thus .the firing pin may be pulledtothe right to cock itagainst .the action .cf spring 5l as shown in Fig.11. When released, lt will .ily to Ytheleft anditssmall portion.54 .at

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.60 .the left endwill strike the ringfcapof the shell ,to explode it.

.,In'Ffig. ,6 is shown aperspective viewof asear Si havlflrg a latch 62which is springpressed against the shoulder- 5i? to holdthe ring pininthe cocked position shown ,in Fig. 11. An eye bolt `63 appearing inFigs. 4 and 9 has its threaded .portion Y(it screwed `into a threadedhole inthe 'breech'block 55. The bolt has two spaced eyes, v a pin( E5passing through one and having thready-ed engagement'withl the other."The searftl has ahole 66 through which the-pin. 55 passes, the sear 5Ibeingthus'pivoted about'thepinfE. As

Y`shown infFig. 9,:there is a blind hole `I'I vin the bottomzof thescar, and a Coil spring'G .which .is 75..sea.t'ed inl this'hole bears.againstthe top lof the base l2, thus normally raising the free end ofthe sear 5I. When the rng pin is drawn back to the cocked position ofFig. 11, the spring 68 forces the latch 52 upwards whereupon it is heldin resilient engagement with the shoulder 60 by the combined action ofsprings 51 and S8. The top of the sear has a recess with an upwardlysweeping top surface or cam S9. As best shown in Figs. 4, 9 and 11, thelug 21 which projects from the trigger bar 2-5 extends over the cam 69.When the trigger 25 is moved backwards by a thrust on the button 2S, thelug 21 engages the cam @s to force the sear and latch 62 downwardsagainst the force of spring 58. When the sear has been sufficientlydepressed, the latch 62 is disengaged from the shoulder 50, and thefiring pin will y to the left to explode the shell. rIhus the gun iscocked by pulling the firing pin back by means of the knob 55 until thelatch 62 engages the shoulder Si). rfhe gun may be discharged by pushingon or striking the trigger bar button 25.

A round post 1E) is threaded into the base I2 and extends verticallyupwards therefrom between the bushing 5S and the scar 5l as shown mostclearly in Figs. '7 and 4. The diameter of the post is too great for itto t between these two elements, so a circular cut is milled in the sidefacing the bushing 59, the diameter of the cut being substantially thesame as that of the bushing so that the bushing bears againstsubstantially the whole area of the cut in the post. The post 1@ thusforms a brace or guide preventing sideways movement of the free end ofthe sear 6l.

Safety means are provided to prevent accidental discharge of the gunwhile it is cocked. Such means are desirable because while it isintended that the gun be worn and in readiness for use substantially allof the time, there are occasions when the trigger button 25 might bestruck unintentionally, as when the wearer is working with his hands, orwhen asleep, etc.

The safety means is shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 12. It comprises alever which is L shaped in plan and pivoted about a screw 1l which isthreaded into the base l2, the lever itself lying flat upon the base. Atits exterior end the lever has a button 12 which enables the wearer tomove the lever. When the safety is in the locked position, its end 13lies under the scar 62 as shown in Fig. 12. As is apparent from Figs. 10and 11, the safety cannot pass under the sear to lock it unless thefiring pin is cocked because there is not room under the sear for theend 13. When the iiring pin is cocked, as in Figs. 11 and 12 and withthe safety in the on position of Fig. 12, the sear 6l cannot bedepressed by moving the trigger bar backwards, because with the end 13of the safety under the latch 62, the latch is held thereby againstdownward movement. Similarly the trigger bar 25 cannot be pushed backfor its normal stroke. Thus after the gun is loaded by the insertion ofa shell as in Fig. 5, and the rng pin is cocked by pulling back on theknob 55, the safety can be pushed into the on position shown in Fig. 12,or it can be left in the 01T position of Fig. 4.

A spring pressed detent as shown in Fig. 13 may be used to hold thesafety in either its on or oir position. The knob 12 has a borecontaining a spring 1li and a ball 15 which are retained in the bore byreducing the diameter of the hole at its lower end to a diameter lessthan that of the ball 15. The base l2 is provided with depressions 16and 11 into which the protruding portion of ball 15 fits when the safetylever is in the on or olf position respectively. Thus the safety leverwill not shift from either position unless it is pushed hard'enough toovercome the spring pressed detent.

The mechanism between the breech block I5 and the plate l1 is protectedby a cover plate 18, shown in section in Fig. 7. Defending side portions1S of the cover plate extend to the base E2 and the entire cover platemay be fastened to the base by screws 86 which pass through the base andare screwed into the side portions 19. The cover plate may however besecured by any other suitable means.

The gun may be secured to the back of the wearers hand by any suitablemeans. One such means is sho-wn in Fig. 1. The base i2 is provided witha series of holes 5l, and a glove 32 or other hand covering is worn onthe hand. The

gun is secured to the back of the glove by a,

thong S33 of any suitable material which passes through the back of theglove and through the holes Si. In a similar manner, the gun may besecured to the glove by means of rivets or small machine screws passingthrough the holes 82. If this method of securing the gun to the wearershand is used. the glove may be merely a skeleton glove without fingersif desired. It is to be undei-stood that any other suitable means tofasten the glove to the back of the hand may be used.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Iclaim:

1. A rearm -having a muzzle, a trigger pro- ,iecting from the rearmclosely adjacent and 'forward of said muzzle. a substantially hat baseby which the irearm be fastened to the back of. a perso-ns hand with themuzzle portion and trigger o-verhanging the knuckles, whereby when thehand is closed into a ist the ngers are removed from the line of re fromthe muzzle, and the trigger may be depressed by striking or pressing thest against an object.

2. A rearm having a muzzle, a trigger projecting from the rearm closelyadjacent and forward of said muzzle. a substantially flat base by whichthe firearm can be fastened to the back of a persons with the muzzleportion and trigger overhanging the knuckles, whereby the :firearm maybe discharged directly into an object by rolling the hand into a st toexpose the trigger remove the lingers from the line cf nre, and strikingthe fist and trigger against the obiect. i

3. A firearm comprising a base member, breech block on said base member,a barrel, means hinging said barrel to said base member for movementinto a position in alignment with said breech block for ring, and out ofalignment with said breech block for loading, releasable means lockingsaid barrel in its position of alignment with said breech block, andfiring mechanism including a trigger and supporttherefor, said triggersupport forming said hinging means.

4. A nrearm comprising a base member, a breech block on said basemember, a barrel, means hinging said barrel to said base member formovement into a position in alignment with said breech block for ringand out of alignment with said breech block for loading, said hingingmeans comprising a tube passing through said breech block and saidbarrel; a trigger slidably sup- .7 ported withinsaid tube ;"a searmechanism, said trigger "terminating at one end adjacent said Searmechanism and at the other'end adjacent the muzzle of said barrel.

5. A firearm comprising a substantially flat longitudinally extendinglbase member, a shoulder secured to said base member and projectingsubstantially vertically therefrom, a breech block secured to said basemember at a position spaced 'longitudinally of said shoulder andprojecting vsubstantially vertically from said base member in the samedirection as said shoulder, a barrel having a cartridge chamber, a tubeextending longitudinally of said base member through said shoulder, saidbreech block and said barrel'to ingedly secure said barrel to said basemember intermediate said shoulder and said breech block, with thecartridge chamber of said barrel in abutting relation with said breechblock for ring where-by said barrel may be swung up from its iiringposition to expose said chamber for loadmeans releasably locking saidbarrel to said base and breech block, a firing pin extending from saidbreech block for firing said cartridge, a triger slidably supported inVsaid tube and operable to release said ring pin.

' 6. The'reann described in claim 5 characterized'further by theaddition thereto of a plate secured tosaid base member to extendsubstantialy vertically therefrom at a position spaced longitudinally ofsaid 'breech block on the side thereof opposite said shoulder, saidiiring pin 'extending through and beyond said plate where- -by said pinmay be grasped for cooking, a sear between said breech block and saidplate, and means responsive to the movement of saidtrigger in said tubefor releasing said iiring pin from said sear.

'7. A firearm adapted to be worn on rthe hand comprising a substantiallyat longitudinally extending base member having a forward end ladapted toextend toward said iingers when worn on said hand,a 'barrel hingedlymounted on said ybase 'to extend longitudinally thereof and havingl amuzzle'portion adjacent said forward end; a breech block'sec'ured tosaid base at the end opposite said forward end to abut said barrel whensaid v barrel is `in its firing position; releasable means for lockingsaidl barrel in said firing position;4 and. a trigger having an impactmember L projecting forwardly beyon'dsaid muzzleand said base member sothat-when said rearm is worn said impact member will extend forwardly ofthe hand ift-hen the fingers are clinched.

8. The combination of a hand covering, a rearm fastened to the back ofsaid hand covering to extend longitudinally thereof with the muzzledirected toward the portion of said hand cover- `ing adapted-toraccommodatersaid iirigers, and a Itri'g'gerprojecting beyond-the-muzzleof said rearm s'ofthatwhen said hand coverngis Wornv the 4trigger willextend in advance ofsaidhand covering when said fingers are 'clinched9.-In-arearm; a base; a breech blockxedto said-base; a shoulder fixed tosaid base at a 4point spaced from f said breech block; a trigger Atubeseated'in saidv shoulder and said'breech blockpa barrel pivotallymounted on said trigger tube and havingva borefparalleling saidtuba-said barrel being rotatable between a loading position whereinfitis swung away from said base'and breech block and a firing positionwherein it lies adjacent said base andsaid breech block; releasablemeans for lockingsaid barrel to said --breech block in said ringposition; a reciprocable ring pin in said breech'block; a reciprocabletrigger bar in said trigger tube; said firing pinV and said trigger barhaving portions extending beyond said breech block on the .side thereofremote from said barren-and means by 4which rearward movementosaidtrigger bar -eieots forward movement of said firing-pin.

10. The combination with a glove, of a firearm fastened to the backthereof; said firearm: having a barrel pointing toward thefingersof--said glove; and a trigger pointingtoward the lingers-of said gloveand extending beyond thevmuzzleiofthe barrel, and in advanceof the-glovewhen the iingers are clenched.

1l.. Aiirearm comprising-a base, a breech block on said base, a barrel,means hinging said barrel to said base about an axis parallel-to thebore of said barrel for movement to a `position in alignment-withsaid-breech block for ring, and away from said breech block forfloading,releasable Y means locking said barrel to said breech blockin alignmenttherewith, and firing. mechanism including a trigger and supporttherefor,

said trigger support forming said hingingmeans.

STANLEY M. HAIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED rlChefollowing references are of record in the

